Downing Street

Wednesday July 13, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday July 13, 2022

Ousted Conservative leadership candidate Patrick Brown undecided about second Brampton mayoral run

Patrick Brown Cartoons

A spokesman for Patrick Brown says the disqualified Conservative leadership candidate won’t make any decisions about running for re-election as mayor of Brampton, Ontario until he has time to talk to family and friends.

Brown entered the race to become the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada without resigning his job as Brampton’s mayor.

He previously said he would consider running again in October’s municipal election if he thought he couldn’t win the federal race, and he has until August 19th to register as a mayoral candidate.

Brown’s position in the federal race changed last week when the party’s leadership election organizing committee voted to boot him from the contest over an allegation that he breached federal financing laws. (CP24) 

Boris Johnson cartoons

Meanwhile, Eight candidates have made it through to the first stage of the Tory leadership contest – actually getting onto the ballot.

Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss have already attracted some big name support, while another big name, former health secretary Sajid Javid, is no longer in the running.

The first hustings are being held in parliament Tuesday night, with candidates given 12 minutes each to put their case, before MPs take part in the first round of voting Wednesday afternoon. (Channel 4 News) 

 

Tuesday July 13, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay - Tuesday July 13, 2016 Theresa MayÕs first job? Tackling the damning legacy of David Cameron The unexpectedly fast selection of Home Secretary Theresa May as the incoming new British prime minister means that she will now move into Downing Street on Wednesday, with David Cameron formally resigning to the Queen earlier that same day. The speedier-than-anticipated transition gives very little time for her to prepare for a massive agenda which, first and foremost, comprises tackling the damning legacy of Mr. Cameron Ð not just the British exit from the European Union, but also the United Kingdom itself unravelling. This is a huge political task for Ms. May and the tragedy is that this troubled political inheritance was by no means inevitable, and stems in large part from Mr. CameronÕs own unwise decisions in office. The EU referendum Mr. Cameron called was one of personal choice, not necessity, and reflected in large part his concerns in 2014 Ð before the last British general election Ð that the U.K. Independence Party posed a significant electoral threat to the ruling Conservatives. Calling a referendum in these circumstances has proven to be a reckless gamble that has destroyed his premiership. Ms. May must now pick up the pieces and try to negotiate a Brexit on the best possible terms with Brussels and the other 27 member states in very difficult circumstances. The referendum vote will have potentially massive implications for the longer-term future not just of the EU, but also the U.K. On the latter front, for instance, the U.K.Õs current constitutional settlement has now become further destabilized with a significantly increased likelihood of a second Scottish independence referendum vote, and also the possibility of greater political uncertainty in Northern Ireland. Unlike England and Wales, both Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU last month. This is a point that has already been strongly emphasized b

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay – Tuesday July 13, 2016

Theresa May’s first job? Tackling the damning legacy of David Cameron

The unexpectedly fast selection of Home Secretary Theresa May as the incoming new British prime minister means that she will now move into Downing Street on Wednesday, with David Cameron formally resigning to the Queen earlier that same day. The speedier-than-anticipated transition gives very little time for her to prepare for a massive agenda which, first and foremost, comprises tackling the damning legacy of Mr. Cameron – not just the British exit from the European Union, but also the United Kingdom itself unravelling.

This is a huge political task for Ms. May and the tragedy is that this troubled political inheritance was by no means inevitable, and stems in large part from Mr. Cameron’s own unwise decisions in office.

The EU referendum Mr. Cameron called was one of personal choice, not necessity, and reflected in large part his concerns in 2014 – before the last British general election – that the U.K. Independence Party posed a significant electoral threat to the ruling Conservatives.

Calling a referendum in these circumstances has proven to be a reckless gamble that has destroyed his premiership. Ms. May must now pick up the pieces and try to negotiate a Brexit on the best possible terms with Brussels and the other 27 member states in very difficult circumstances.

The referendum vote will have potentially massive implications for the longer-term future not just of the EU, but also the U.K. On the latter front, for instance, the U.K.’s current constitutional settlement has now become further destabilized with a significantly increased likelihood of a second Scottish independence referendum vote, and also the possibility of greater political uncertainty in Northern Ireland.

Unlike England and Wales, both Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU last month. This is a point that has already been strongly emphasized by parties such as Sinn Fein and the Scottish Nationalist Party which favour the further fragmentation of the United Kingdom. (Continued: Globe & Mail)

2016-07-12tearsheet